Mark’s Gospel is short but punchy. It feels like the action version of the story of Jesus, with a kind of Bruce Willis, Die Hard feel, where events pile up on each other with barely a moment to spare.
But there is a structure to Mark’s Gospel. This structure helps the reader make sense of all the action. What’s it about? Where is it heading?
In summary here is the structure.
· First half: Reveals who Jesus is, his authority, his power and compassion. (Chapters 1 to 7)
· Turning point: Shows that the disciples understand who Jesus is – the Messiah. This is why he has such power and authority (Chapter 8 verses 27-30)
· Second half: Jesus goes to his death, as the Messiah, to bring salvation to sinners. Chapters (8 to 13)
· The end: Jesus’ death is the focus. It shows he died as the Messiah to bring salvation.
Below, I’ve laid out that structure with some passages so you can see it for yourself.
Introduction
‘The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God’
Mark is clear, Jesus is the Messianic king, the Son of God. (See reading Mark’s Gospel 1 for more on Jesus as the Messiah). As God’s king Jesus announces:
“The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15
Jesus announces that the rule of God is coming. And, the right response is to repent and believe. Repenting is changing your mind about God. Believing is trusting the good news about Jesus. Jesus is here, turn and trust him to return to God.
The first half: Reveals who Jesus is, his authority, his power and compassion
Chapters 1 to 7
The demons know Jesus is God’s Messiah, for they are from the spiritual realm.
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 1v24, See also 1v34
Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 3v11.
The demons know, and the reader knows because of Mark chapter 1v1-16. However, the people in the Gospel meeting Jesus don’t know who he is. They see his authority and power and are trying to understand who he is:
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” Mark 1v27
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”4v41 See also Mark 5v42-43
People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7v37
The crowds and the disciples are seeing Jesus’ power, love and authority over everything: sickness, death, demons and even sin. And they are asking themselves, who can he be?
Jesus is in no doubt, that he is God’s appointed ruler
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” … This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2v10
The turning point: Jesus is the Christ. This is why he has the authority he does.
Chapter 8v27-30
The turning point in the Gospel is when the disciples of Jesus understand that Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah), the one who will bring God’s kingdom. The Kingdom is near for the King is here.
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8v27-29
The second half: Jesus goes to his death, as the Messiah, to bring salvation to sinners.
Chapters 8 to 13
Immediately after the disciples understand who Jesus is, he tells them why he has come. Or, put another way he tells them how he will come into his kingship.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8v31-32
Jesus tells his disciples (and us) clearly that the agenda is to die. This agenda determines the rest of the gospel. It is a journey to Jerusalem.
Twice more Jesus tells his disciples he is going to Jerusalem to die.
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” v33 Mark 9:30-32
“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. … Three days later he will rise.” Mark 9 v33 (31-34)
As Jesus’ heads to his death, he teaches his disciples what it means to follow him as their ruler.
The end: The focus is Jesus’ death. It shows he died as the Messiah to bring salvation. His death opens the way to God.
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 14v31-32
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 14v 37-39.
The curtain is ripped open showing the way to God is open through Jesus’ death. The Kingdom of God is here.
Related
Reading Guide to Mark’s Gospel